John 3:1-2

¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. ²He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs You are doing if God were not with him."

“There was a man” ties us right to the end of chapter 2. All men are hypocrites, so Jesus doesn’t entrust Himself to them. Here comes a man. We could read this as, “Now there was a hypocrite.” It’s not meant as an insult; it’s reality. We’re sinners – prideful hypocrites. We deceive ourselves by thinking we are better than we are (1 Corinthians 4:7; John 3:27).

Nicodemus was a Pharisee – an honorable title in his culture, but we have learned to see that as a negative. High status is not a good thing. He was a “better” Pharisee; not antagonistic. He was the most admired man in the community of God; yet, as we will see, he was outside the community of God.

He was a member of the Sanhedrin – the best qualified to teach and discern spiritual truth; if he fails the test, no one should expect to pass. None are naturally disposed to receive the Gospel; that’s where the Spirit comes in.

“There was a man” ties us right to the end of chapter 2. All men are hypocrites, so Jesus doesn’t entrust Himself to them. Here comes a man. We could read this as, “Now there was a hypocrite.” It’s not meant as an insult; it’s reality. We’re sinners – prideful hypocrites. We deceive ourselves by thinking we are better than we are (1 Corinthians 4:7; John 3:27).

Nicodemus was a Pharisee – an honorable title in his culture, but we have learned to see that as a negative. High status is not a good thing. He was a “better” Pharisee; not antagonistic. He was the most admired man in the community of God; yet, as we will see, he was outside the community of God.

He was a member of the Sanhedrin – the best qualified to teach and discern spiritual truth; if he fails the test, no one should expect to pass. None are naturally disposed to receive the Gospel; that’s where the Spirit comes in.

He came to Jesus – “the teacher of Israel” comes to Jesus. Why did he come? Much speculation surrounds his coming:

He has a genuine personal interest (John 7:50-52). This is no so much “seeking truth” as intrigue and curiosity.

He represents the Sanhedrin, which was rightly responsible for investigating spiritual uprisings. They also came to John the Baptist to inquire of him (John 1:19-28). The Sanhedrin would have wanted to squash false teachings.

He came at night – 3 speculations:

He wants to avoid being seen publicly with Jesus by other Pharisees who thought Jesus’ miracles were Satanic.

It was a good time for teachers to discuss spiritual things, as there would be no interruption from daily affairs.

This is figurative, as Jesus is a Light in the darkness (1:5). He is polite and humble in addressing Jesus.

“We” may prove that he represents the Sanhedrin, or it may be an exercise of humility or fear. He was humbly saying “we” instead of “I,” or he was fearful and embarrassed to say “I.”

Some commentators have accused Nicodemus of flattery, but there is no evidence for that claim. He appears to be sincere.

He confesses a truth that Jesus has come from God. He attributes Jesus’ miracles to the power of God, unlike others (Mark 3).

There is no such thing as a “satanic” miracle. Sorcery, witchcraft, divination, and magic are considered tools of the devil.

The truth that Nicodemus perceives falls well short of Jesus’ full identity. That’s why Jesus responds as He does, as we'll see next time.